India's government is banning books in the disputed region of Kashmir, citing reasons such as secessionism, false narratives, and antinational sentiments.
Book sellers are now under scrutiny, worried about unknowingly selling material that authorities do not approve of.
The scrutiny has extended beyond bookstores, with authorities in Kashmir instructing schools, colleges, and universities to review research papers, academic theses, and report material deemed objectionable.
This move has been met with criticism from experts, who argue that the crackdown in the age of the internet and social media is absurd.
Freedom of speech cannot be eroded at the present time, and only hard copies of banned books can be taken out of the market.
